Climbed with jhansen007 via the Outward Bound Couloir (tops out at the saddle between Kat Carson and Kit Carson) and then continued up the last portion of the standard route. Descended via the West Ridge and hit Challenger Point on the way out. Great weather despite getting a late start.

Hiked in to Colony Lakes in the morning and continued on to Kit Carson. I didn't know it was going to be such a long route, but it was so fun. I decided to climb Humboldt on the way back to complete the day.

Interesting solo trip. Two summits at once and the closest that I've ever come to getting dead from a dumbass mistake. Nevertheless, an awesome hike and beautiful scenery. This is why I go to the mountains. My trip report will follow.

As I grew up in nearby Saguache, this is one of my favorite peaks to climb. I have summited three or four times, but I try not to keep count. The Kirk Couloir route is a classic--preferably climbed at sunrise wth a pair of skis on the pack.

Finally had the chance to ride up the nasty Colony Lakes road w/ my BMS group from the CMC. This was to be our "High Peak Climb" for graduating Basic Mountaineering School. We camped at the upper lake, and rather than heading to the Humboldt saddle we scambled up one of the loose couloirs leading directly to the Bears Playground. When we arrived there, it was totally fogged in (only 20 foot visablity). Well, that was a good chance to practice our map and compass skills. I was elected to take the lead and successfully put us right at the base of the eastern sub peak (then unnamed, but so was the western summit; hopefully there will be no need for future summits to be named after disasters in space exploration). After scrambling up tundra and solid rock to the 13,980 summits of the subpeak, we descended south on solid rock to traverse over a small ridge and then climb back up a few feet to the saddle. The climb to the true summit was back in the fog and the view was non-existent. the descent was uneventful and everyone was tired but satisfied.

Woo Hoo!!! 1,000' of class 3+ scrambling. Thanks to my sweetie, Alan, who forged ahead and provided great beta. Thanks to Ellen for checking in on the radio to see if I had been clobbered by the all the falling rocks. And special thanks to Aaron for climbing down and meeting me 50' below the ridge and giving me much needed incentive to finish (hey...no way was I down climbing that route). This one was for you Grandpa.

Did a great class 3+ route up the north face of Challenger, then on to the foggy summit of Kit Carson. The weather looked iffy, but I'm glad I finished it. Many thanks to Andy for waiting for me on the summit and for Aaron and Ellen for giving me beta on the radio. Congrats to Jackie for doing the north face and summiting Challenger, and to Barry and Andy for doing the north ridge. What a great trip!

Kit Carson avenue was loaded with snow and made for a freakish route. We were able to kick steps and use our ice axes to get across the first section of the avenue with all the exposure loaming below. I accidently exited the avenue too soon and this resulted in at least a 4th class climb to the summit. We then decended the North Ridge route and made it back to camp just after dark.

By all means, sometime in your life go to Willow Lake - it was a great campsite! My friends and I actually climbed Kit Carson's airy Class 4 North Ridge, and that was just a blast! No ropes required, but a ton of exposure...go for it! I then went back over Challenger Point and back down to Willow Lake after a great day.

This was Erin's and my first trip to the Crestone area 14ers. We had an interesting encounter with a bighorn at the base of Challenger, and we faced a dramatic downpour as we neared the trailhead during our return. A trip report is available here.

I climbed Challenger Pk with my son Peter, then 15, from Willow Lake and we continued on to climb Kit Carson. Challenger Pk was Peter's first 14,000 ft peak. I had first climbed Kit Carson back on 9 August 1971.

This is one of the prettiest hikes up a 14er willow lake is amazing. and the ramp that takes you from challenger ridge to a walkable route up Kit Carson Peak is unnatural. all in all a great hike/scramble.

Wonderful lesson in the unpredictable weather of the Sangres. On the hike in to the lake, we heard the flyover for Kat Carson/Columbia Peak. We spent the rest of the day acclimatizing and exploring in the area of the lake, and the next day we walked to the base of Challenger to get a feel for the terrain and the route, before returning to the camp for lunch. That afternoon we were buried in 3 inches of pea to dime sized hail that flooded our poor Eureka tent, as well as sending a brand new waterfall that was at least as tall as the Willow Lake waterfall down the west face of Challenger. Soaking wet, we let the mountain win round one. Expect a summit next summer...

Excellent backpack trip, although I felt sluggish on the second day, to the most spectacular lake that I've been to this date. Colonelpyat(Jim) is an excellent hiker/climber and anyone who hike's with him will soon come to realize the many years of experience behind him.

The only downer on the weekend was that I dropped my camera and it tumbled down the mountain for about two-hundred feet. It came to rest in what looked like an old melted out crevasse (inside joke). Needless to say the camera is finished, it was a very somber moment, but like my wife says at least it wasn't me tumbling down the mountain.

A little TIP for those who attempt this mountain in the future, screw the guidebook, and head for the prominent notch just to the right of Challenger Point's summit (class 2+, loose scree). you will be able to see it from the back side of the lake and holds snow throughout the year. By doing this you will dodge the extreme exposure from the standard route. I will add an image to this page and call out this notch.